Afghanistan Sees Alarming Rise in Youth Suicides

In recent days, reports have emerged of two young people committing suicide in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kandahar.

Drug addiction, domestic violence, and unemployment are cited as the primary causes of such incidents.

One of the victims, Abdul Haq, a resident of Chaparhar district in Nangarhar, hanged himself at home a few days ago, leaving behind two orphaned children.

Family members say he suffered from mental illness in addition to drug addiction and had been hospitalized multiple times.

Abdul Haq’s father, Noorurrahman, said: “He was addicted to drugs. When I realized it, he had already left home twice, but I brought him back. I brought him back a third time as well and took him to the hospital where he received treatment. However, after returning home, he left again.”

His brother, Samiullah, said: “Two days had passed since he hanged himself before the neighbors informed us. We went and brought back his body, arranged for his shroud, coffin, and burial.”

According to official statistics, on the 17th of Jawza (solar calendar), a young man named Abdullah Abid in Uruzgan, and on the 7th of Saratan, a young man named Fida Mohammad in Kandahar, committed suicide due to economic and mental pressures.

On the same date in Jawza, in Barmal district of Paktika province, a young man named Allah Noor and his fiancée also committed suicide because they couldn’t afford the dowry.

Some religious scholars consider suicide a forbidden act in Islam, while medical experts highlight psychological treatment as a key method in preventing suicidal behavior.

Abdulrahman, a religious scholar in Nangarhar, said: “The Prophet’s sayings clearly prohibit suicide. Anyone who commits suicide is held accountable in this world and in the hereafter.”

Dr. Amir Pamir, a physician in Nangarhar, said: “Mental illness and sudden psychological pressures lead many young people to take their own lives. The best way to prevent this is to raise awareness among youth and teach them resilience in the face of challenges.”

According to official figures, in 2024, 72 suicide cases have been recorded in Khost province alone.

Afghanistan Sees Alarming Rise in Youth Suicides
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UNICEF Reports Return of 5,000 Unaccompanied Afghan Children from Iran

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, also stated that 150,000 individuals have returned via the Islam Qala crossing just this month.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported the return of 5,000 unaccompanied children from Iran to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, also stated that 150,000 individuals have returned via the Islam Qala crossing just this month.

He said: “In the month of June only, 150,000 returns have been recorded across the border in Islam Qala. 25% of these are children, many of whom are families, female-headed households, and in a very, very difficult situation. For us as UNICEF, we’ve seen more than 5,000 separated and unaccompanied children, and that comes with all the vulnerability of exploitation, abuse, and the lives that these children could be subjected to. Together with other partners on the ground at the reception center in Islam Qala, we are providing critical vaccination services.”

Poverty and economic hardship, along with other factors, have pushed Afghan children and teenagers to neighboring countries, especially Iran.

In Iran, these children and teenagers are often forced to work to survive, far from their families. Now, among the deportees from Iran, there are children who have crossed back into Afghanistan alone via the Islam Qala border.

Murtaza, one of the deportees from Iran, said: “We studied up to sixth grade here, then stopped and went to Iran. We were deported again. Our hope is that the work and economic situation improves so we can continue our education in our own country.”

Nazeer Ahmad, another deportee, said: “During the five years we spent in Iran, we were harassed a lot. Along the way and in different places, they mistreated us and took extra money from us.”

This comes with only seven days remaining before Iran’s deadline for the departure of Afghan migrants from its territory.

UNICEF Reports Return of 5,000 Unaccompanied Afghan Children from Iran
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Global Efforts Pledged in Doha to Support Afghanistan’s Economy

Following the official ban on poppy cultivation by the interim government, the level of cultivation has significantly decreased.

The third meeting of the Counter-Narcotics Working Group and the second meeting of the Private Sector Working Group were held today (Monday, 30 June) in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Representatives from the Islamic Emirate, various countries, and international organizations attended the meeting. The goal of these discussions is to find solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of the poppy cultivation ban and to support Afghanistan’s economy.

Political analyst Saleem Paigir stated: “I wish all the decisions made during the third Doha meeting would be implemented; however, the topics addressed today are a promising start for the Afghan people. We can count on the international community and the United Nations to fulfill the commitments they make to the people of Afghanistan.”

Economic analyst Abdul Nasir Reshtia said: “The stronger the private sector becomes, the more employment opportunities it can create. Banking restrictions must also be lifted so that the private sector can engage effectively in international trade. Unfortunately, current restrictions have caused significant challenges.”

Following the official ban on poppy cultivation by the interim government, the level of cultivation has significantly decreased. However, new challenges have emerged, including unemployment, livelihood crises, and the expansion of illegal markets. The United Nations is now using the Doha Working Group process to address these issues.

Military affairs analyst Sadiq Shinwari said: “The decrees of the Islamic Emirate regarding the ban on poppy and narcotics must be strictly enforced. At the same time, international support for helping farmers must be considered.”

The third Doha meeting, which was held a year ago in Qatar, also focused on supporting the private sector and combating narcotics.

In the latest round of the Doha process, representatives from 25 countries, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the United Nations are in attendance.

Global Efforts Pledged in Doha to Support Afghanistan’s Economy
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Afghanistan: Surging returns from Iran overwhelm fragile support systems, UN agencies warn

UN News

30 June 2025

Afghans who have been deported from Iran gather at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan.UNHCR/Faramarz Barzin

Afghans who have been deported from Iran gather at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan.

More than 700,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran so far this year, including 256,000 in June alone, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday, warning of immense pressures on Afghanistan’s overstretched support systems.   

Ninety-nine per cent of the returnees were undocumented, and 70 per cent were forcibly returned, with a steep rise in families being deported – a shift from earlier months, when most returnees were single young men, according to the UN agency.

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The rise follows a March decision by the Iranian Government requiring all undocumented Afghans to leave the country.

Conditions deteriorated further after the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which caused the daily refugees crossings to skyrocket from about 5,000 to nearly 30,000, according to Arafat Jamal, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representative in Afghanistan.

“They are coming in buses and sometimes five buses arrive at one time with families and others and the people are let out of the bus and they are simply bewildered, disoriented, and tired and hungry as well,” he told UN News, describing the scene at a border crossing.

“This has been exacerbated by the war, but I must say it has been part of an underlying trend that we have seen of returns from Iran, some of which are voluntary, but a large portion were also deportations.”

Strain on aid efforts

Afghanistan, already grappling with economic collapse and chronic humanitarian crisis, is unprepared to absorb such large-scale returns.

The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calls for $2.42 billion in funding, but only 22.2 per cent has been secured to date.

The scale of returns is deeply alarming and demands a stronger and more immediate international response,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope, “Afghanistan cannot manage this alone.”

Meanwhile, UNHCR alongside partners is working to address the urgent needs of those arriving – food, water, shelter, protection. However its programmes are also under severe strain due to limited funding.

The agency had to drastically reduce its cash assistance to returnee families at the border from $2,000 per family to just $156.

We are not able to help enough women, and we are also hurting local communities,” added Mr. Jamal.

Some relief, but not enough

In response to growing crisis, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $1.7 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support drought-affected families in Faryab Province.

The funds will provide cash assistance to some 8,000 families in the region, where over a third of the rural population is already facing crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity.

“Acting ahead of predicted hazards to prevent or reduce humanitarian impacts on communities is more important than ever,” said Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, Head of OCHA Afghanistan, adding “when humanitarian action globally and in Afghanistan is underfunded…we must make the most of every dollar.

Afghanistan: Surging returns from Iran overwhelm fragile support systems, UN agencies warn
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Islamic Emirate Denies Pakistan Claim of India Using Afghan Territory

The Islamic Emirate rejected remarks made by the Chief of Pakistan’s Army Staff claiming that India is using Afghan territory to operate against Pakistan.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, stressed that the caretaker government, based on its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, does not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against any country.

Fitrat said: “Currently, there is no threat to anyone, and such concerns suggesting that one party is being nurtured against another are baseless. The Islamic Emirate adheres to a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and does not permit the use of Afghan soil to create insecurity, especially against neighboring countries. These concerns are therefore groundless. That said, we emphasize that relations with Pakistan are important to us and must be based on mutual interests. We seek good relations with both countries and observe a neutral, non-interventionist policy in foreign affairs.”

This statement follows recent remarks by Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, who claimed that Indian-backed groups are operating against Pakistan from Afghan territory.

Speaking in Islamabad, Munir referred to Afghanistan as an Islamic and brotherly country and stated that Pakistan seeks peaceful relations with Afghanistan but expects Kabul to prevent the activities of Indian proxy elements.

He said: “We ask only one thing: do not give space to India’s terrorist proxies — Fitna al-Hind and Fitna al-Khawarij.”

Mohammad Zalmai Afghan Yar, a political analyst, responded by saying: “Our lack of confrontation with India does not mean we oppose Pakistan. We hope the other side will stop repeating accusations and engage with Afghanistan based on shared interests.”

On another note, Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghan Peace, said in response to a question on Pakistan that no country should use terrorism as a political tool.

In an interview with an Indian media outlet, he said: “No country, whether in the region or globally, should use terrorism as an instrument for advancing political agendas. Even Pakistan itself has suffered from terrorism. Therefore, this situation must come to an end.”

Despite a recent improvement in diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul, Pakistan’s recurring concerns and accusations about the use of Afghan soil against its interests remain persistent.

Islamic Emirate Denies Pakistan Claim of India Using Afghan Territory
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City’s ‘moral duty’ to accept more Afghan refugees

Alexander Brock

Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
June 29, 2025
The city council has agreed to accept 124 Afghan refugees during 2025/26

Birmingham City Council has agreed to accept 124 new Afghan refugees into the city – a move its leader called a “moral duty”.

The Labour run local authority said it was willing to accommodate the refugees during 2025/26, as part of the government’s Afghan Relocation Programme (ARP) to rehouse Afghan citizens who have worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan.

Councillor Robert Alden, the council’s Conservative leader, said the opposition party should focus on housing the people already in need within the city.

But at a meeting on Tuesday, councillor John Cotton said participation in the scheme was not about feeling “warm and fuzzy” but “playing our role as a global city”.

Alden argued that welcoming more refugees could place a “strain” on the city’s housing situation.

He said: “The city has changed since 2021 [the year the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan] – the council is now bankrupt.

“There are tens of thousands of people on the council’s waiting list for housing, there are thousands of families in temporary accommodation, people who are already here who cannot get housed properly.”

“This report doesn’t really reflect the fact that actually that will be placing a further strain on those issues in the city.”

The Birmingham Conservative Group later posted on X, that the council “should focus on housing Birmingham residents”.

The council said in the report that it had successfully supported the successful integration of 148 Afghan families in the past with “little impact” on public services or finances.

It also said relatively low rates of hate crimes had been reported by resettled families in the city.

Cotton defended the council’s plans during the meeting.

“I think it’s very clear we have a moral duty to participate,” he said. “It isn’t about feeling warm and fuzzy.

“We welcomed people to this city for many generations,” he added.

The council’s cabinet approved the continued use of private sector housing and Local Authority Housing Fund properties to meet the housing needs of families arriving under the ARP.

It said this would help manage the risks associated with additional pressures on housing and homelessness services.

City’s ‘moral duty’ to accept more Afghan refugees
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Tourists are trickling into Afghanistan and the Taliban government is eager to welcome them

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — By plane, motorbike, camper van and even on bicycles,

 tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travelers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war.

And the country’s Taliban government, which seized power more than three years ago but has yet to be formally recognized by any other nation, is more than happy to welcome them.

“The Afghan people are warm and welcoming and wish to host tourists from other countries and engage with them,” Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press in an early June interview. “Tourism brings many benefits to a country. We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.”

A potentially lucrative industry

Tourism is a vital, multi-billion-dollar industry for many countries.

Afghanistan’s isolation on the international stage, largely because of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, has left much of its 41 million people mired in poverty. As it struggles to attract foreign investment, the lucrative potential of tourism is far from lost on the government.

“We are currently earning a considerable amount of revenue from this industry, and we are hopeful it will grow even more in the future,” Jamal said, noting money spent by visitors can reach more layers of society than revenue from other industries. “We are optimistic this sector will evolve into a large economy, bringing significant benefits. It plays an important role in strengthening our national economy.”

Trickle rather than a flood

Tourist visas are quick and easy to obtain and flights from major transit hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul operate several times a week. The government has even set up a training institute for men — and it is only for men — seeking jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector.

While visitor numbers are still very much a trickle rather than a flood, they are increasing. Nearly 9,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan last year, while nearly 3,000 people visited in the first three months of this year, Jamal said.

Four decades of near-continuous conflict kept nearly all vacationers away from this landlocked country of towering mountains, deep gorges and millennia of history.

The Taliban’s takeover from a U.S.-backed government in August 2021 stunned the world and sent thousands of Afghans fleeing. But with the insurgency over, the bloodshed from frequent bombings and suicide attacks all but ended too.

Attacks still occur, however. An Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan remains active and gunmen killed six people, including three Spanish tourists, in a May 2024 attack in Bamiyan, one of the country’s main tourist attractions where centuries-old giant Buddhas carved into the cliffs were blown up by the Taliban in 2001.

While Western countries still advise against travel to Afghanistan, a drop in violence from the two decades of U.S.-led military presence is indisputable, as the government is keen to point out.

“Afghanistan has gone through many years of war and hardship. Now, we want tourists to come and see the true traditions and customs of Afghans, to understand Afghan life, creativity and resilience,” Jamal said, noting there was “comprehensive security across Afghanistan.”

An ethical dilemma

Critics question the ethics of foreigners visiting Afghanistan for pleasure when its government discriminates so heavily against half the country’s population.

Education beyond primary school level is banned for girls and women and few professions are open to them. Women cannot enter parks, gardens or gyms.

Beauty salons are forbidden. Authorities dictate how women dress and have demanded they cover their faces in public, a decree still flouted by many, particularly in Kabul.

Some visitors say they contemplated the ethics, but ultimately wanted to see the situation for themselves.

French-Peruvian Illary Gomez said she and her British partner, James Liddiard, debated for about a year whether to drive through Afghanistan as part of their U.K.-to-Japan camper van journey.

“Some things didn’t feel morally right,” she said.

But once here, they said they found a warm, hospitable and welcoming people and beautiful landscapes. They didn’t feel their presence was any form of support for the Taliban.

By traveling, “you put money in the hands of the people, not the government,” Liddiard said.

Building bridges

The treatment of women is particularly sensitive for government officials. Jamal declined to comment on the subject beyond saying male and female visitors were welcome.

“Those who respect our laws and traditions have already come and can continue to come,” he said.

While most restrictions are strictly enforced on Afghan women, they are far more relaxed for foreigners. Although they must still wear a headscarf in public, foreign women are more likely to gain entry into some restricted areas such as parks and are rarely asked to cover their faces in public.

Opening the country to foreign visitors was also a way of building bridges, Jamal said.

“It is a great way to promote interaction between the people of different countries. It helps build international relations and is also beneficial for trade,” he told the AP. “When foreigners come here, Afghans also learn a lot from them. In addition to expanding commerce, tourism also helps foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange and strengthens talents as people learn from one another.”

A foreign traveler seeing the country with his own eyes “creates closeness, builds connections and fosters trust among people,” Jamal said. “They will respect each other’s culture and the distance between peoples will diminish.

“So this is not just economic development; it also brings spiritual and political benefits,” he said.

Tourists are trickling into Afghanistan and the Taliban government is eager to welcome them
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Afghanistan among top 20 nations with most unvaccinated children: UNICEF

Khaama Press

UNICEF reports Afghanistan is among the top 20 countries globally with the highest number of unvaccinated children, raising serious health concerns.

Afghanistan is among the top 20 countries in the world with the highest number of unvaccinated children, according to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The report highlights serious concerns over the country’s low immunization coverage, which puts millions of children at risk of preventable diseases.

UNICEF’s latest update, released on Saturday, June 28, reveals that only 16.2 percent of Afghanistan’s children are fully vaccinated. This low coverage rate poses a significant threat to child health and survival, particularly in a country already facing numerous healthcare challenges.

Despite ongoing polio vaccination campaigns, polio has yet to be eradicated from Afghanistan. Barriers such as limited healthcare access, ongoing conflict, and misinformation continue to hamper progress, leaving many children unprotected against life-threatening diseases.

UNICEF estimates that vaccinations in Afghanistan could prevent between 4.9 to 5.4 million deaths between 2021 and 2030. The agency also acknowledged the vital support of the Government of Japan in enhancing child health initiatives, including efforts to expand vaccine accessibility and improve healthcare infrastructure.

Adding to the crisis, the World Food Programme (WFP) previously reported that four million Afghan mothers and children are currently suffering from malnutrition. The agency warned that as many as 3.5 million children could be at risk of malnutrition by 2025 if the current situation does not improve.

The combined challenges of low vaccination rates and widespread malnutrition present a major public health emergency. Without urgent and coordinated intervention, millions of Afghan children face long-term health consequences and even death from preventable conditions.

To avert a deeper humanitarian crisis, strengthening routine immunization programs, addressing malnutrition, and ensuring safe access for aid workers must become top priorities for both national and international partners. Long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure and education will be essential in safeguarding the future of Afghanistan’s children.

Afghanistan among top 20 nations with most unvaccinated children: UNICEF
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Pakistan Closes Ghulam Khan Border with Afghanistan amid Security Threats

Khaama Press

Pakistan has temporarily closed the Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan due to security threats, disrupting trade and travel until further notice.

Local officials in Khost province have announced that the Ghulam Khan border crossing has been closed by the Pakistani side due to security concerns and will remain shut until further notice.

According to a press release issued by the Khost governor’s office, officials at the Ghulam Khan crossing were informed by Pakistani authorities on the evening of the previous day that the route would be temporarily closed due to ongoing security threats.

The statement further noted that no specific timeline has been provided for the reopening of the border, and the closure will remain in effect until further notice.

Local authorities have urged all citizens, travelers, and traders to avoid using this route and instead utilize alternative pathways for commuting and transporting their goods.

Ghulam Khan is one of the key border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, playing a crucial role in the transit of goods and the movement of people between the two countries. It holds particular economic and commercial importance for residents of Khost and neighboring areas.

Repeated closures of this route due to security concerns have often created difficulties for traders, drivers, and passengers, negatively impacting trade relations between the two nations.

The ongoing border disruptions continue to strain the already fragile economic ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, affecting livelihoods and regional trade dynamics.

Authorities on both sides are being urged to establish a sustainable and secure framework for cross-border movement to avoid future economic setbacks and reduce disruptions to civilian life.

Pakistan Closes Ghulam Khan Border with Afghanistan amid Security Threats
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Pension Decree Ignored for Months, Retirees Say

Among the protesters were also retired women, their eyes filled with tears and their voices choked with grief and hardship.

Once considered the backbone of the state, Afghanistan’s retired civil servants now suffer in silence, overlooked and impoverished, their voices barely heard despite their growing desperation.

A number of retirees have again gathered, empty-handed but hopeful, in front of the pension office, saying they haven’t received their pensions in nearly four years and can no longer afford basic necessities of life.

Habibullah, a retiree, said: “Where should I go with my ten children? My children ask me for bread. Who should I turn to? Where should I go? Every time we go to the pension office, they say our case is in progress. It’s been four years.”

Another retiree, Abdul Hakim, said: “People come from all over the city. They can’t even afford ten afghani for transport, so they walk. Believe me, some of my friends are here right now.”

Mirwais, also retired, said: “The decree said it should be implemented in 24 hours, but it’s been five months and nothing has happened. Every day we are told maybe tomorrow.”

Among the protesters were also retired women, their eyes filled with tears and their voices choked with grief and hardship.

Hamira, a retired woman, said: “My children fight over a pencil. I don’t even have ten afghani to buy one. What can I do? No notebook, no pen.”

Sahra, another retired woman, said: “I am the sole breadwinner of my family. I have four children, each going to school. We have rent to pay, and I’m sick myself.”

Although retirees gather every Saturday to protest the unpaid pensions, the caretaker government has yet to provide any clear update on when these long-delayed payments will be made.

Pension Decree Ignored for Months, Retirees Say
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